Verinata Health joins hands with Teva in Israel

02 Jul 2013, BioSpectrum Bureau , BioSpectrum

Singapore: Illumina announced that Teva Pharmaceutical has signed an exclusive agreement with Verinata Health, an Illumina company, for the commercialization of the verifi non-invasive prenatal test in Israel. The MOR Institute for Medical Data, through its relationship with Teva, will provide the verifi prenatal test to customers of Clalit Health Services who are at high risk of having a fetus with a chromosomal abnormality. The MOR Institute, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clalit Health Services, will also establish a 9,000-patient clinical outcomes registry to collect performance data and will share the data with Verinata.

"We are extremely pleased to partner with Verinata in Israel, to bring pregnant women unprecedented access to what we believe is the superior non-invasive prenatal test to detect chromosomal abnormalities," said Mr Ron Mayron, Chief Executive Officer of Teva Israel. "The verifi prenatal test exemplifies our investment in the women's health segment and our commitment to offer clinically-validated, innovative new products to Israeli women to improve their health and quality of life."

Under the terms of the five-year agreement, Teva Pharmaceuticals will be the exclusive distributor of the verifi prenatal test in Israel. All tests will be run in Verinata Health's CLIA-certified laboratory in California. Clalit Health Services will provide reimbursement for the verifi prenatal test through supplemental insurance.

"We strongly believe that the verifi prenatal test will have a lasting and positive impact on the Israeli community, and MOR will provide a special nursing service, allowing pregnant women to have their sample collected for the test in the convenience of their homes, as well as in MOR clinics in the country," said Dr Orit Jacobson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of MOR Institute. "The patient registry developed through this collaboration will be the largest and most extensive of its kind, demonstrating our commitment to leadership in women's health," Dr Jacobson added.